Miners in court over soldiers’ murder

Bindura illegal small scale miners popularly known as “Mashurugwi” who allegedly assaulted and killed members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) in a scuffle over girlfriends were arraigned before Bindura magistrate Christopher Maturure on Wednesday.

Alexio Gumbato (36) and Job Chitsvimbo (age not given) were remanded in custody to May 2 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.

The prosecution alleges that at around 2am on Tuesday, the suspects had a misunderstanding with three soldiers at a bar in Chiwaridzo high-density suburb, Bindura, over girlfriends.

The soldiers, Shaw Tizora (33), Tawanda Garega (35) and Pumulani Khuumani (30), were part of a team that was taking part in rehearsals for Independence Day celebrations in Bindura and were camped at Chipadze Secondary School.

Khuumani was headed for the bar in the company of female friends Lesley Chitabura (25) and Nyasha Ngozo (19), both from Chipadze suburb when a scuffle broke out.

He allegedly assaulted Chitabura, who screamed for help, attracting the attention of Gumbato and Chitsvimbo, who rushed to the scene armed with knives and attacked the soldiers.

Tizora and Garega died from the injuries while Khuumani was rushed to a nearby police station, where he filed a report before being taken to Bindura Provincial Hospital._NewsDay